Advantages of Keep a Detailed Home Maintenance and Renovation Diary
We all keep a detailed record of major investments and expenditures made by us like home, stocks, business, bills, income tax information or medical history and so on. Many of us also keep records of birthdays, anniversaries of our loved ones and friends, etc. But how many of us keep a detailed home maintenance and renovation record. If you are one of this, you should start keeping a home improvement, maintenance and renovation diary now. After all, it is your biggest investment, and the one thing in your house that requires constant tender loving care to maintain its value and to ensure it continues to be able to
protect your family from the elements and keep them secure. At the outset, it seems like an overwhelming task, but with some creative thinking and a commitment to accuracy and organization, it can become quite simple.
The first thing you need to enter in your dairy is the date you purchased your home, mortgages on it and other relevant details. Next, start taking stock of your home’s current condition be seeing your home through the eyes of a real-estate agent, investor or a buyer. Be brutally honest when you’re assessing the situation. Make different categories in your dairy for different sections of the home such as the exterior, kitchen, master bedroom or basement. Within each main category above, create sub-headings for tasks to be done, like painting, electrical, insulation, roof, landscaping, or climate control. Study each corner, each tile and brick, and notate any damage, defect, or upkeep that needs to happen.
As you look through your completed home maintenance diary, don’t let it become overwhelming to you. Have a family meeting to devise a plan and decide what will be done by whom and when, what materials if any are needed and so on. Stick to the plan that works for everyone involved to complete needed tasks. Perhaps you’ll devote this weekend to painting the exterior and the following weekend you’ll focus on maintaining the landscaping. If there are tasks in your diary that you feel ill-equipped to handle, call a professional. The peace of mind knowing the job was handled by a professional is well worth it.
Be sure to have a separate section available for renovations, updates, or remodels that you’ve completed as well. Be sure to date these events, and if there’s any notes regarding specific equipment used or products purchased, be sure to jot that down as well. The next time you make your inspection, these records will prove very handy.